UNIQUE SURVEILLANCE SYSTEMS - BS & EN STANDARDS
Ensure your system qualifies for Police Response and Insurance Approval.
Many companies and individuals have spent lots of money on monitored CCTV systems on the assumption that the police will respond to it when the Central Station submit requests to the Force Control Room.
This is not the case, as the A.C.P.O (Association of Chief Police Offers.) National Policy makes clear, there are two types of security system TYPE A and TYPE B:
TYPE A means the system has been fitted to rigorous and demanding standards and has a Unique Reference Number Issued and registered with the Police Control Room. The police will attend these systems as outlined below in he exert from the ACPO policy.
3 OPERATIONAL TACTICS
3.1 POLICE ATTENDANCE - Type A Security Systems
3.1.2 For Type A security systems there are two levels of police response:
- LEVEL 1 – Immediate/Urgent
It should be noted that police response is ultimately determined by the nature of demand, priorities and resources which exist at the time a request for police response is received. - LEVEL 3 – Withdrawn
No Police attendance, keyholder response only.
With remotely monitored CCTV systems installed to BS 8418 most false alarms sources are eliminated by design. The only recurring false alarm. we have found on BS 8418 systems is that staff entering the premises early or out of hours, activate the system and do not cancel the alarm promptly, a bad practice effective management will soon sort out.
As the majority of CCTV companies are not accredited to BS 8418 or Police registered their systems are TYPE B systems as outlined below in the exert from the ACPO policy.
POLICE ATTENDANCE - Type B Security Systems
3.4.1 The electronic security industry has seen an increase in the availability of Type B alarms (portable personal attack and CCTV systems). These are being sold and bought with the expectation of prompt police attendance. ACPO, whilst not wishing to preclude the ability to provide a prompt response to crimes in action, observe that the development of this technology might if unchecked lead to significant additional demands and higher expectations of police attendance than would be appropriate.
3.4.2 To obtain police attendance, Type B systems will require some additional indication from a person at the scene that a criminal offence is in progress which indicates that police response is required. This will require human intervention such as member of public, owner or agent visiting, or viewing the premises. The addition of electronic means to provide confirmation will not promote such systems to Type A or achieve police response.
So, with a TYPE B system POLICE response, it is helpful if someone goes and looks at it first! before calling the Police. Not an ideal state of affairs. Many high cost insurance claims for criminal damage risk being rejected by this simple point and we know of a few people who have lost their jobs by choosing the wrong type of security system.
Unique Surveillance Systems is fully qualified and accredited to carry out CCTV installations to BS 8418 EN 50132-7: CCTV Application guidelines, and always connect to suitably approved central stations. This is confirmed by the exert from the ACPO policy listed below.
2. STANDARDS
2.1 Installers of remotely monitored detector activated CCTV systems will comply with all of the following standards and guidelines:
- ACPO Security Systems Policy
- BS 8418 Installation and remote monitoring of detector activated CCTV systems – Code of Practice
- BS EN 50132-7: CCTV Application guidelines
2.2 RVRCs monitoring detector activated CCTV systems will conform to all of the following standards:
- BS 5979 (Cat II)
- BS 8418: Installation and remote monitoring of detector activated CCTV systems – Code of Practice
